Job stress and job satisfaction among new graduate nurses during the first year of employment in Taiwan

Nurse graduates are leaving their first employment at an alarming rate. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between job stress, job satisfaction and related factors over time among these nurses. This study applied a longitudinal design with three follow-ups after nurse graduates' first employment began. Using convenience sampling, participants were 206 new graduates from a university. The Work Environment Nursing Satisfaction Survey and the Clinical Stress Scale were used in this study. Results indicated that job stress remained moderate across three time points. Participants working 12h shifts exhibited less job stress. Job satisfaction significantly increased in the twelfth month. Participants working 12h shifts had a higher degree of job satisfaction. Job stress was negatively correlated with job satisfaction. The 12h work shifts were related to job stress and job satisfaction. These results implied that health-care administrators need to provide longer orientation periods and flexible shift schedules for new graduate nurses to adapt to their work environment.